Turkey’s ruling party says won’t change policies on S. Caucasus

March 11, 2015 - 15:04 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party’s policy over the South Caucasus countries will remain unchanged, following the parliamentary election in the country, Haber7 TV channel reported referring to the party’s pre-election statement, Trend said.

“The South Caucasus region is of particular importance for Turkey,” the statement said. “Moreover, the Turkish ruling party intends to actively fight Islamophobia.”

The representatives of some 31 political parties will participate in the parliamentary election to be held in Turkey on June 7, 2015.

As the statement noted, Turkey stands for the settlement of the conflicts in the South Caucasus, including the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as part of the so-called "territorial integrity of Azerbaijan."

In late February, Turkish Foreign Minister reiterated conditions Ankara set forth for normalization of ties with Armenia.

As Mevlut Cavusoglu stated in an interview with Sabah, the Karabakh conflict settlement is essential to establish peace in the South Caucasus.

"To normalize ties with Ankara, Yerevan must cede Karabakh territories," he said, accusing Armenia of taking no steps towards solving the Karabakh issue..

The Armenian-Turkish Protocols

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

Commenting on the CC ruling, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “it contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols.” ”The decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot be accepted on our part. Turkey, in line with its accustomed allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same allegiance from the Armenian government,” the Ministry said.